Syndication: The Record
(New York, NY) — Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik, the top cop in the city during the 9/11 attacks, has passed away at age 69. He had been recently hospitalized with a cardiac illness.
Kerik was named Department of Corrections Commissioner under Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who then promoted Kerik to NYPD Commissioner in 2000. Rudy Giuliani reflected on his long time friend, saying on his show “We’ve been together since the beginning. He’s like my brother,” “I was a better man for having known Bernie. I certainly was a braver and stronger man.”
Kerik later led a provisional police force in Iraq, named to the post by President Bush after the U.S. invasion there. Bush nominated Kerik to head the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, but his employment of an illegal immigrant as a nanny sunk the nomination.
He pleaded guilty to eight felonies in 2009, including tax fraud, and served four years in federal prison. He was pardoned by President Trump in 2020.
Kerik leaves behind his wife, Hala and three children. His 41-year-old son, Joe is currently a member of the Newark SWAT team.
